A 42-year-old Florida man identified as Salomon Cruz-Perez has been charged with aggravated animal cruelty after police discovered two dogs dead and hanging from a tree in his garden. Cruz-Perez allegedly informed police in an unusual statement that the dogs had tied themselves up.
According to a news release from the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, officers responded at Cruz-Perez’s residence at 2111 Dade Road in Fort Pierce, Florida, approximately 5:29 p.m. on March 16. At a press conference, St. Lucie County Sheriff Richard Del Toro stated that no one opened the door. However, deputies heard someone in the backyard. When deputies walked around the property, they uncovered an unexpected surprise.
According to the press release, deputies discovered Salomon Cruz-Perez near two dead dogs. Two dogs, one male and one female, were “suspended by their necks from a tree.” Furthermore, after getting a search warrant, officers discovered the dogs hanging from the tree with “coaxial cable, paracord, tie-down straps, and chains” looped around their necks.
Arrested And Charged
Sheriff Del Toro reported that Cruz-Perez admitted to owning the pets. Strangely, he allegedly told deputies that the dogs had somehow managed to tie themselves up. According to Del Toro, Cruz-Perez allegedly attempted to euthanize the pets just a few weeks ago.
“The deceased dogs were collected by St. Lucie County Animal Control and will be transported to Orlando for a necropsy,” the sheriff’s office press release reads. “The necropsy will determine the cause, mode, and manner of death.”
Police arrested Salomon Cruz-Perez and charged him with two felonies for aggravated animal abuse leading to death. According to PEOPLE, he made his first court appearance on Monday, March 17. He is now jailed in the St. Lucie County Jail on a $10,000 bond. According to the publication, Cruz-Perez is currently without legal representation.
Authorities have released no information about the reason for Cruz-Perez’s alleged hanging of his canines. Given the heinous nature of the alleged conduct, the news release from the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office has received a lot of negative feedback online. Many people are demanding justice, labeling Cruz-Perez a “monster.”
